Ilya Metchnikoff (in French - Élie Metchnikoff) was a Russian and French biologist (microbiologist, cytologist, embryologist, physiologist, and pathologist). In 1908 Metchnikoff was awarded the Nobel Prize for physiology and medicine.

Ilya Metchnikoff worked in the laboratory of Pasteur Institute. In 1905 Metchnikoff became an associate director of this Institute. He founded a school of immunologists, microbiologists, and physiologists. He played an active role in establishing of new research institutes. He elaborated different methods of infection diseases control